Sequential multiple dial switch mechanism



Jan. 4, 1966 N. K. ACKER SEQUENTIAL MULTIPLE DIAL SWITCH MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 INVENTOR. A/OEBEET K. fickfil? ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 N. K. ACKER SEQUENTIAL MULTIPLE DIAL- SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rm m0 T. E 4 M m I.- j.

4 w m 7 \\\\\\\N m o x 7 HTmEA/EYS Jan. 4, 1966 N. K. AcKER 3,227,823

SEQUENTIAL MULTIPLE DIAL SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F E] E INVENTOR. A O/PBE/PTK 140(5 United States Patent 3,227,.523 SEQUENTIAL MULTIPLE DIAL SWITCH MEiCIIANISh I Norbert K. Acher, Neu-lisenburg, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to

Automatic tCanteen Company oi America, tlhicago, 1th.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed Ian. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,643 7 (Iiaizns. (Cl. 200-13) My invention relates to a dial switch mechanism and more particularly to a mechanically operated dial switch mechanism which is especially adapted for use on merchandising machines and the like.

The present trend in machines used in the automatic dispensing of merchandise or services is the provision of a very large number of possible selections. This has always been true in the case of amusement devices such, for example, as jukeboxes. It is becoming increasingly true in the field of merchandising articles such, for example, as items of food. In such machines, especially those which are adapted for use during periods of time when stores which sell these items are not open for business, a very large number of items must be sold at prices within a wide range of prices.

In machines of the prior art adapted to dispense articles of merchandise, an individual selector button is provided for each of the respective items to be sold. In jukeboxes and the like, pluralities of push buttons coded in accordance with a series of number and letters form a selecting line or board for setting up a switching circuit to make one of a large number of possible selections.

It will be obvious that where a very large number of items of merchandise are to be sold, it is impractical to provide an individual selecting button for each respective article since such a system confronts the customer with an immense array of buttons and is extremely complicated and unwieldy to construct. Sets of push buttons coded in accordance with a series of numbers and letters and adapted to be pushed in different combinations to make a selection are comparatively inconvenient to use.

There are known in the prior art dial operated switches for selectively setting up individual circuits such, for example, as those required in a dial telephone system. In reponse to the operation of the dials in such switches, trains of impulses are fed to central station electromagnetic switch which set up the required circuit. While these switches are satisfactory for use in telephone systems in which the trains of impulses are transmitted to a central station containing the delicate equipment for storing the pulses and for setting up the circuits, they are not suitable for use in a merchandising machine in which the entire mechanism must be contained in the machine housing. First, the normal amount of abuse to which such a machine is subjected would result in frequent derangement of the delicate switching mechanism. Secondly, the expense of installing such a system on each machine makes their use entirely impractical for merchandising machines. The switching circuits of such mechanisms are so complicated that adjustment or repair of the circuit would require the services of a highly skilled technician, thus adding appreciably to the cost of operating the machine.

I have invented a dial switch mechanism which is especially adapted for use on automatic machines for selling merchandise or services. My dial switch is actuated completely mechanically so as to avoid the complications involved in electrical dial operated switches of the prior art. My mechanism is extremely simple and rugged for the result achieved thereby. It is relatively inexpensive to construct so that it can be used on automatic merchan- Patented Jan. 4, 1966 dising machines without adding inordinately to their costs. It is sufticiently rugged to withstand the normal abuse in use of the machine and it is reliable in operation so that it requires relatively little maintenance and repair.

One object of my invention is to provide a dial switch mechanism which is especially suited for use on a merchandising machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dial switch mechanism in which the selecting circuits are set up by an operation which is entirely mechanical.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dial switch mechanism which is inexpensive to construct.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a dial switch mechanism which is rugged and reliable in use.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of dial switch mechanism having a plurality of stationary members having respective movable members associated therewith. Each stationary and movable member forms a pair. One number of each pair carries a plurality of electrical contacts while the other member carries a contactor adapted to engage the contacts. In response to successive actuations of a dial, the movable members are successively and independently coupled to the dial driven shaft to engage the respective contactors with contacts of the associated plurality. In this manner a circuit corresponding to a number of successively dialed digits is established.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my mechanical dial switch enclosed in its housing.

FIGURE 2 is an expanded perspective view from the bottom of the switch shown in FIGURE 1 with parts removed illustrating the operation of the switch.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the form of the dial switch shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of my dial switch mechanism taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of my dial switch mechanism taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of my dial switch mechanism taken along the line s s of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of my dial switch mechanism taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of my dial switch mechanism taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, my dial switch mechanism, indicated generally by the reference character In, includes a housing 12 having an end plate I4. The end plate 14 anda bearing plate I6 disposed within the housing carry respective bearings 18 and 20 which rotatably support the main shaft 22 of the dial switch mechanism. A dial 24 secured to or otherwise operativeiy coupled to the shaft 22 is adapted to be actuated to rotate shaft 22 in its bearings 18 and 2b. Dial 24 is provided with a plurality of finger holes 26 by means of which the dial can be driven. A stop 23 carried by plate 1.4 or by any other appropriate part limits the rotation of the dial 24 under the action of a finger inserted in one of the holes 26.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 8, respective set screws 3t) secure a dummy driver disk 32 and respective first and second active drive-r disks 3:4 and 36 to the shaft 22 for rotation therewith. Each of the driver disks has a peripheral flange 33 forming a recess 40 providing a driving shoulder 42 and a return cam surface 44. I also provide each of the driver disks with a radially ex- 3 tending stop 46 positioned adjacent the return cam surface 44.

A spiral spring 4-8 connected between shaft 22 and a pin 51) or the like on plate 16 normally urges the shaft 22 and dial 24 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2. A fixed stop 52 secured to plate 14 in any suitable manner such as by being screwed therein is engaged by the stop 4-6 of the second active driver disk 36 to limit the rotation of shaft 22 in a counterclockwise direction under the action of the spring 48.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, and 6, two cam disks 54 and 56 are loosely supported on the main shaft 22. Each cam disk 54 and 36 is provided with a peripheral flange 58 forming a cam surface 60. I also provide each of the cam disks with a radially extending finger 62 and with an axially extending lug 64. Respective springs 66 secured to the fingers 62 normally urge disks and 56 to rotate in a clockwise direction to cause the lugs 64 to engage stops 4-6. Since the spiral return spring 48 is stronger than the aggregate action of springs 66, stops 46 act on the lugs 64 to move the fingers 62 into engagement with a limit stop 68 which, in the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, is a rod extending between the bearing plate 16 and the end plate 14. A second rod 69, similar to rod 68, is adapted to tbe engaged by fingers 62 in the other direction of rotation of cams 54 and 56.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, shaft 22 loosely supports respective contact arm carrier plates 71 and 72. One portion '74 of the periphery of each of the plates 76 and 72 is smooth and the periphery of each plate adjacent this portion is provided with a plurality of teeth 76 adapted to be engaged by a holding pawl 78 pivotally supported on an axially shiftable shaft 80. While the pawls '78 associated with the respective plates 70 and 72 can pivot on the shaft 80, they are restrained against movement axially of the shaft. A leaf spring 82 secured to the outisde of plate 16 by any suitable means, such as by a rivet 84, engages the end of shaft 86 extending out through an opening 86 in plate 16. Under the action of this spring, shaft 86 is normally positioned at a location at which pawls 78 are in engageernnt with the smooth portions 74 of the plates 7% and 72. Thus, even if the plates 76 and 72 rotate, pawls 78 do not engage with teeth 76. Plate 14 carries a solenoid 88 adapted to be energized in a manner to be described hereinafter to shift shaft 80 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 2 through a distance sufficient to position pawls 78 at locations at which they can engage the teeth 76.

Each of the cam biasing springs 66 extends between a finger 62 of one of the cam plates 54 and 56 and a lug 90 formed on one of the pawls 78. Thus, the springs 66 erform the dual function of urging the cam disks 54 and 56 to rotate in a clockwise direction and of urging the pawls 73 to move in a counterclockwise direction into engagement with the peripheries of plates 70 and 72. Respective springs 92 which may, for example, extend over pulleys 94 rotatably supported on shafts 96 extending between plates 14 and 16 have one end secured to hooks 93 or the like on the plates 76 and 72 and have their other ends secured to a rod 160 extending between plates 14- and 16. These springs 92 normally urge the plates 76* and 72 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 to positions at which stops 102 on the plates 76 and 72 respectively engage the lug 64 of cam disk 56 and the fixed stop 52.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 7, a boss 164 on each plate 76 and 72 frictionally supports a coupling pin 106 adapted to be actuated in a manner to be described hereinafter to provide a coupling between one of the driver disks 34 and 36 and a plate 711 and 72.

Referring again to FIGURES 2 and 7, rivets 108 or the like secure a bifurcated contactor 11th to each of the plates 70. One arm 112 of a contactor 116 normally engages a home contact segment 114 disposed along the locus of a circle in alignment with a continuous contact strip 116, The other arm 117 of the contactor normally engages a home contact 118 disposed :along the locus of a circle in alignment with a plurality of contacts 126. The contacts 114, 116, 118 and 12% as well as the conductors 122 connecting them to the external circuit may be in the form of printed circuitry carried by a plate or board 124 of insulating material supported within the housing 12 in any suitable manner as by channels formed in the upper and lower halves 126 and 128 of the housing. Suitable terminal carrying members 130 may be frictionally slid over portions 132 of the boards 124 extending out of the housing to permit connections to be made to the external circuit.

In operation of my dial switch mechanism, when it is installed, for example, on a merchandising machine and in response to the deposit of a coin in a machine establishing a credit the solenoid 88 is energized to shift shaft 8%) to the left as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3 move pawls 78 off the smooth portions 74 of the plates 72 to positions at which they can engage the teeeth 76 on the periphery of the plates. The solenoid 88 remains energized until the credit which caused its energization is canceled. It will readily be appreciated that any other suitable means such as a manually operable mechanism could be employed to move shaft 86 to the position at which pawls 78 can engage teeth 76.

With shaft 86 in the position described, my switch mechanism is ready to be operated. To operate the switch the operator or customer inserts his finger in the hole 26 corresponding to the first digit of the number he desires to dial. Having placed his finger in the proper hole, the customer rotates dial 24 in a clockwise direction to a position determined by the limit stop 28. When dial 24 rotates to drive shaft 22 the dummy driver disk 32 and the two active driver disks 34 and 36 rotate with the shaft against the action of the return spring When the dummy driver disk 32 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2, stop 46 moves away from lug 64 of cam disk 54- to permit the cam disk to rotate concomitantly with shaft 22 under the action of spring 66 in a clockwise direction. After a slight displacement of disk 54, the cam surface 60 engages the end of the coupler pin 166 supported in plate and moves this pin to the right as viewed in FIGURES 2 to 4. When the pin moves to the right its other end travels into the recess 4-1] of the first active driver disk 34 to a position at which it may be engaged by shoulder 42. It would be thought that owing to the movement of the stop 46 of driver disk 34 away from lug 64- cam disk 56 would also turn under the action of spring 66. However, this action cannot occur since the stop 162 is in engagement with lug 64 and spring 92 is stronger than spring 66 so that cam disk 56 is temporarily held in a position at which its finger 62 engages the stop 68.

When the shaft has traveled through a predetermined angular displacement, shoulder 42 engages pin 106 to couple the plate 76 to the shaft so that the plate is driven with the shaft in a clockwise direction. As soon as the shoulder 42 begins to drive the plate 70, stop 78 moves away from the lug 64, so that the surface 60 of the cam 53 on disk 56 can act on the pin 1116 carried by the plate 72. I so proportion the parts that this action does not take place until shaft 22 has moved through such a distance that the shoulder 42 of disk 36 has passed by pin 166 with the result that, on this first actuation of the dial 24, plate 72 is not coupled to the shaft.

Upon continued movement of shaft 22 in the course of this first actuation, plate 71) moves with the shaft and the latch 78 rides over the teeth 76 to hold plate 70 in the position to which it has been moved. In this manner the contactor 11th carried by the plate 70 moves to a position at which its arm 112 and 118 respectively engage the strip 116 and a contact 126 corresponding to the digit which has been dialed. Thus, a circuit corresponding to the first dialed digit is set up.

When the dial 24 is released after its first actuation, spring 48 returns all the parts except plate '76 to the positions they occupied before the first actuation. In this position of the parts it will be appreciated that stop as of driver disk 34 prevents movement of cam disk 56 under the action of spring 66. At this time the stop M2 is out of the path of movement of the lug 64 of cam disk 56. Now, upon the second actuation of disk 24 all the driver disks 32, 3d and 36 move the shaft 22 as before. Since the plate 7th is held in the position to which it has been moved in the course of the first operation, its coupler pin 1% would not be engaged by the cam 69 of plate 54 except after a considerable displacement of the plate 54. The stop 59 is engaged by the finger 62 to prevent this much displacement of the cam plate so that the plate 70 is not coupled to the shaft on the second actuatlon of the dial even though it has been moved to only the lowest digit position.

In the course of this second actuation of the dial, as soon as the driver disk 34 begins to move so that its stop 46 releases the lug 64 of cam plate 56, this plate 56 beglns to move under the action of spring 66. This actron is permitted since, as it will be remembered, stop 102 of the plate '70 is not in a position at which it can prevent this action. As the cam disk 56 rotates in this manner, the cam surface 60 of the disk engages the coupler pin 1% of disk '72 to move the pin into the recess 4t) of the second active driver disk to couple plate 72 to the shaft for rotation therewith. Upon continued rotation of the shaft, the plate 72 moves with the shaft and pawl 78 engages a tooth 76 corresponding to the digit dialed to hold plate 72 in this position to set up a circuit corresponding to the second digit of the dialed number.

It will readily be appreciated that while I have shown and described a form of my dial switch mechanism including only two contactors carrying plates 7% and 72, I can readily provide as many such plates as I desire in order to set up circuits corresponding to a multidigit number. The mechanism for actuating these additional plates is identical to that described in connection with the plates '76 and 72. When the circuits have been set up in this manner the dispensing operation or the like is permitted to take place and upon its completion, as by acceptance of the money deposited in the machine, solenoid is de-energized and spring 82 moves shaft fitl to the right as viewed in FIGURES 2 to 4 and all the parts are permitted to return to their initial positions under the influence of spring 43.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a mechanical dial switch which is especially adapted for use on merchandising machines adapted to afford a very large number of selections. The actuating mechanism of my switch is entirely mechanical so that the difficulties involved in electrically operated switches of the prior art are avoided. My entire switch mechanism is simple and inexpensive to construct for the result achieved thereby. My mechanism is rugged and reliable in use and requires little maintenance or repair.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rotary switch mechanism including in combination a first contact arm, a plurality of first contacts engageable by said first contact arm, a second contact arm, a plurality of second contacts engageable by said second contact arm, means comprising a shaft for mount ing said contact arms and said contacts for relative rotary movement from a home position at which said arms are out of engagement with said contacts to positions at which said arms selectively engage the contacts of the associated sets, respective first and second coupling means for coupling said arms to said shaft to engage said contact arms respectively with contacts of said sets, means responsive to a first rotary displacement of said shaft initiated from said home position for actuating said first coupling means for engaging said first contact arm and contacts, means for rendering said second coupling means inoperative during said first rotary displacement, means responsive to said first rotary displacement of said shaft initiated from said home position and to a second successive rotary displacement of said shaft initiated from said home position following said first rotary displacement actuating said second coupling means, and means for rendering said first coupling means inoperative during said second rotary displacement.

2. A rotary switch mechanism including in combination a first contact arm, a plurality of stationary first contacts engageable by said first contact arm, a second contact arm, a plurality of stationary second contacts engageable by said second contact arm, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for rotary movement with respect to said stationary contacts from a home position, respective first and second coupling means for coupling said first contact arm and said second contact arm to said shaft, means responsive to a first rotary displacement of said shaft initiated from said home position for actuating said first coupling means, means for preventing operation of said second coupling means during said first rotary displacement, means responsive to said first rotary displacement of said shaft initiated from said home position and to a second successive rotary displacement of said shaft initiated from said home position following said first rotary displacement for actuating said second coupling means, and means for preventing operation of said first coupling means during said second rotary displacement.

3. In a rotary switch mechanism a shaft having an axis, a plurality of stationary contacts, means mounting said shaft for rotary movement with respect to said contacts, a contact arm, means mounting said arm loosely on said shaft, a driver disc, means mounting said driver disc for rotation with said shaft, a coupling pin, means mounting said coupling pin on said contact arm mounting means for movement in the direction of the shaft axis from an inactive position to an active position at which it can be engaged by said driver disc, a cam carried by said shaft and means responsive to rotation of said shaft for causing said cam to move said coupler pin from said inactive position to said active position.

4. A dial switch mechanism including in combination a support, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for rotary movement on said support, a plurality of groups of contacts, means mounting said groups of contacts on said support at spaced locations along the length of said shaft, respective contact arms for engaging the contacts of said groups, means mounting said contact arms loosely on said shaft at locations adjacent said groups, respective driver disks each having a driving shoulder, means mounting said driver disks on said shaft for movement therewith at locations adjacent said contact arms, a plurality of coupler pins, means mounting said coupler pins on the respective contact arm mounting means for movement from inactive positions out of the paths of movement of said driving shoulders to active positions in the paths of movement of said driving shoulders, respective cams for driving said coupler pins from said inactive to said active positions, means mounting said cams loosely on said shaft, means for biasing said cams to move in a direction to drive said coupler pins, respective means for retaining said cams in normal positions against the action of said biasing means, a dial carried by said shaft for rotating said shaft, means responsive to a first actuation of said dial for releasing one of said cam retaining means to permit said biasing means to move one of said cams to drive one of said coupler pins to its active position in the path of movement of a driving shoulder of one of said driver disks whereby on continued movement of said shaft, said driver disk moves the associated contact arm into engagement with one of the associated contacts and means responsive to a second actuation of said dial for releasing a second cam retaining means to permit said biasing means to move a second cam to drive a second coupler pin to a position in the path of its associated driver disk whereby said last-named driver disk moves the corresponding contact arm into engagement with one of its contacts.

5. A dial switch mechanism including in combination a support, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for rotary movement on said support, a group of first contacts, a group of second contacts, means mounting said groups of contacts on said support at spaced locations along the length of said shaft, a first contact arm for engaging said first contacts, a second contact arm for engaging said second contacts, respective means mounting said contact arms loosely on said shaft at locations adjacent the corresponding groups of contacts, a first driver disc having a driving shoulder corresponding to said first contact arm, a second driver disc having a driving shoulder corresponding to said second contact arm, means mounting said driver discs on said shaft for movement therewith, a first coupler pin, a second coupler pin, means mounting said coupler pins on the respective corresponding contact arm mounting means for movement from inactive positions to active positions in the paths of movement of the associated driving shoulders, a first cam for driving said first coupler pin from said inactive to said active position, a second cam for driving said second coupler pin from said inactive to said active position, means mounting said cams loosely on said shaft, respective means for biasing said cams to move to drive the associated coupler pins, means for retaining said first cam in a normal position out of engagement with its associated coupler pin, against the action of said biasing means, means comprising interengageable elements on said first contact arm mounting means and on said second cam for retaining said second cam in a normal position out of engagement with its associated coupler pin against the action of said biasing means, a dial carried by said shaft for rotating said shaft, means responsive to a first actuation of said dial for releasing said first cam retaining means to permit the associated biasing means to move said first cam to drive the first coupler pin to its active position whereby on continued movement of said shaft said first driver disc moves said first contact arm into engagement with one of the associated contacts, means for retaining said first contact arm in engagement with the contact to which it has been moved whereby said engageable means are disengaged after said first dial actuation, means comprising second interengageable means on said first driver disc and on said second cam for holding said second cam in its normal position following the first rotation of said shaft and means responsive to the second operation of said dial for permitting said biasing means to move said second cam to drive the second coupler pin to its active position whereby said second driver disc moves said second contact arm into engagement with one of its contacts.

6. A dial switch as in claim 5 including means for limiting the movement of said first cam under the action of said biasing means.

7. A dial switch as in claim 5 in which each of said driver discs comprises a return cam for returning the associated coupler pin to inactive position upon return movement of said shaft.

References @ited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,836 11/1951 Hilsinger 200-44 X 2,740,056 3/1956 Parker et al. 200-14 X 2,811,594 10/1957 Papouschek 20014 2,927,168 3/1960 Brown 20018 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primaly Examiner.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY SWITCH MECHANISM INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A FIRST CONTACT ARM, A PLURALITY OF FIRST CONTACTS ENGAGEABLE BY SAID FIRST CONTACT ARM, A SECOND CONTACT ARM, A PLURALITY OF SECOND CONTACTS ENGAGEABLE BY SAID SECOND CONTACT ARM, MEANS COMPRISING A SHAFT FOR MOUNTING SAID CONTACT ARMS AND SAID CONTACTS FOR RELATIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT FROM A HOME POSITION AT WHICH SAID ARMS ARE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACTS TO POSITIONS AT WHICH SAID ARMS SELECTIVELY ENGAGE THE CONTACTS OF THE ASSOCIATED SETS, RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND COUPLING MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID ARMS TO SAID SHAFT TO ENGAGE SAID CONTACT ARMS RESPECTIVELY WITH CONTACTS OF SAID SETS, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A FIRST ROTARY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SHAFT INITIATED FROM SAID HOME POSITION FOR ACTUATING SAID FIRST COUPLING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID FIRST CONTACT ARM AND CONTACTS, MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID SECOND COUPLING MEANS INOPERATIVE DURING SAID FIRST ROTARY DISPLACEMENT, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID FIRST ROTARY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SHAFT INITIATED FROM SAID HOME POSITION AND TO A SECOND SUCCESSIVE ROTARY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SHAFT INITIATED FROM SAID HOME POSITION FOLLOWING SAID FIRST ROTARY DISPLACEMENT ACTUATING SAID SECOND COUPLING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID FIRST COUPLING MEANS INOPERATIVE DURING SAID SECOND ROTARY DISPLACEMENT. 